Mail-receptacle.



No. 736,815. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

. J. P. BROWN.

MAIL REGEPTAGLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 1902. N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented August 18, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

MAlL-RECEPTACLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 73 6,815, dated August18, 1903.

Application filed November 3, 1902. Serial No. 129,960. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES PARK BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hillsboro, in the county of Montgomery and State ofIllinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMail-Receptacles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to mail-receptacles, and contemplates theproduction of a colleotion and delivery box adapted more especially foruse in rural free-delivery districts. box to this end being waterproofand dustproof is readily opened and closed and while open affordsprotection to the contents against rain or snow.

Other advantages possessed by my improved mail-box are set forth in thefollowing description of the construction and operation, in connectionwith which attention is called to the accompanying drawings,illustrating the invention in its preferred form, it being understoodthat various changes may be made therein without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail-box embodyingmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse'sectionalview. Fig. 4. is an enlarged detailview showing the means for limitingthe opening movement of the lid.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A denotes the body of the box,having a back a, sides a a, and a bottom 0, which latter may be of flatform, but is preferably transversely concave, as shown, to facilitatethe removal of the contents. The bottom has depending side portions, andthe box sides are upturned at the lower end for connection with the sideThe nails or screws are covered and protected from rust and from beingwithdrawn to unlawfully remove the box.

The lid D has a top d, sides d d, a front 01 and a back (1 The top,which may be curved or A form, as indicated at (1*, Fig. 3 incross-section, is integral with the sides, and the front and back arejointed by a dou- .ble seam to the sides and top to render the lidcompletely water and dust proof. The lid is pivoted at its lower rearcorners to the lower rear corners of thebox-body by bolts 6, and theforward ends of the box sides a are formed to permit the lid to be swungto completely cover the body, the lid in its closed position resting atits front on the lid a. The opening movement of the lid is limited byhooks f, struck from the downturned upper edge of the sides a, engagingthe upturned lower edge (1 of the lid sides 01. The lid when closedcompletely covers the boxbody and effectually protects the contentsthereof, and even while the box is open during collections anddeliveries the contents is protected from rain or snow and also fromwinds. The lid is easily and quickly opened and is self-closing.

Any suitable locking means, including a key-released spring-catch, maybe provided; but I prefer to employ a padlock g, the shackle of which ispassed through an opening 72. in the lid and a registering opening 1' inthe box- .body. Pivoted to one side a of the box-body, close to theopening 1', is an arm j, constitut ing the carriers signal. The foldedand extended positions of the arm are shown and indicated in Fig. 2, andit will be noted that in either position the arm is locked by thepadlock-shackle, thereby preventing unlawful movement of the signal. Inits folded position the arm engages at its free end the downturned edgeof the side a, and "thereby does not obstruct the closing of the lid. Atthe opposite side is pivoted an arm 70, carrying a disk whichconstitutes the patrons signal. Fig. 1 shows this signal in folded andextended positions.

In operation, supposing the lid to be lowered, a slight pressure issu'iiicient tolift the lid and expose the contents, if any, of the box.The lid may be raised to any desired angle and mail may be deposited orwithdrawn without allowing rain or snow to enter the box, and by reasonof the end opening the mail can be readily removed by a gloved 1 hand.

The box is very simple in construction, and hence may be inexpensivelymade. Moreover, the simplicity of structure and freedom from exposedjoints, rivets, and the like insure durability and unimpairedusefulness.

I claim as my invention- 1. A mail-box consisting of'a body having abottom, sides, a back andan open front, and a lid pivoted at its rearend to said body and completely covering the sides, back and front ofthe body in its closed position.

2. A mail-box consisting of a body having a bottom, sides, a back and anopen front, and a lid pivoted at its rear end to said body andcompletely covering the sides, back and front of the body in its closedposition, a shoulder on the body forming the support for the loweredfree end of the lid, and means for limiting the opening movement of thelid.

3. A mail-box having a body and a pivoted lid completely covering thebody in its closed position, registering openings in the body and lidfor the shackle of a padlock or the like, and a signal-arm pivoted tothe body side to be engaged and locked by the shackle in folded orextended position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES PARK BROWN.

Witnesses:

THOS. P. MARTIN, T. 0-. WHITE.

